Monday, December 21, 2009

Sehwag powers India\'s chase of 240

Cuttack : All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja produced his career-best four-wicket haul as India bundled out Sri Lanka for a modest 239 in their third One-day International at the Barabati Stadium here on Monday.

Electing to bat, Sri Lanka made a rousing start before they lost way in the middle overs as Indian slow bowlers brought themselves back into the game.

Jadeja claimed four for 32 -- his best from 12 ODIs -- while Ashish Nehra and Ishant Sharma took two wickets apiece to bring an end to Sri Lanka innings in 44.2 overs.

Upul Tharanga (73) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (41) gave Sri Lanka a perfect start going with a run rate in an excess of 10. Captain Kumar Sangakkara (46) then stood in a 100-run partnership with Tharanga as the Lankans looked set for a big score before the Indians came back strongly.

Sri Lanka scored 14 runs from the first over from Zaheer Khan, who struggled with his line with four wides. Runs came at ease for Sri Lanka who raced to 50 in 3.4 overs with Dilshan and Tharanga not giving time for Zaheer and Ishant Shrarma to settle down.

Zaheer conceded 26 runs in his first two overs before Sehwag brought in Ashish Nehra in the fifth over. Nehra managed to curb Tharanga\'s strokeplay with four dot balls and his tight over almost gave India the breakthrough in the form of a suicidal run-out of Dilshan.

But Dinesh Karthik, who kept the wickets in place of regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, horribly messed it up after neatly collecting it. The wicketkeeper had plenty of time to run out Dilshan but he missed the stumps completely from a close-in throw.

India, however, quickly got the breakthrough in Nehra\'s very next over when he dismissed the dangerman Dilshan as Sri Lanka lost their first wicket for 65. A short delivery from Nehra tempted Dilshan for a pull shot that took the top edge as Karthik took an easy catch.

Sangakkara and Tharanga, however, ensured that the visitors maintain a good run-rate as Sri Lanka reached 150 in 19.4 overs. Tharanga completed his half-century from 51 balls.

Bringing himself in place of Nehra, Sehwag bowled a crucial four-over spell to break the century partnership between Sangakkara and Tharanga. The Indian stand-in captain beat Sangakkara in the air and Karthik dismissed the Lankan stumped from a second attempt. Sangakkara hit three boundaries and one six.

Sangakkara\'s dismissal was followed by two quick wickets with the addition of just eight runs. Opener Thranga, looking good on 73, was brilliantly bowled by Ravindra Jadeja in his first over, while Mahela Jayawardene (2) followed suit in the next over as Sri Lanka were quickly reduced to 173 for four.

Continuing his tidy spell, Jadeja then castled Chamara Kapugedera (15) to pick his second wicket. Having conceded 49 from his first four overs, pacer Ishant returned with a brilliant spell to dismiss Thilina Kandamby (22) and Suraj Randiv (0) in successive balls.

Jadeja then got his fourth victim before Nehra finished off the Sri Lankan innings.
News From: http://www.Time2timeNews.com

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